India
How to read the promise behind a big infrastructure project
A project announcement can sound transformative. Here is how to understand what has actually been proposed, funded and built.
Tag: Explainers
World
Follow an international story without losing its context
When a story crosses borders, familiar words can hide very different institutions, laws and timelines.
Business
Percentages, points and the numbers behind business headlines
A small change in wording can make a financial statistic sound much bigger—or smaller—than it is.
Technology
Before you trust an AI demo, ask these five questions
A compelling demonstration is a useful starting point. Understanding its conditions is what makes it informative.
Science
A new study is a beginning: how to read science news
Good science reporting connects an interesting result with its methods, limitations and place in the wider evidence.
Health
Health headlines: a calmer way to check the evidence
A dramatic headline can make a small or preliminary result feel urgent. Reading the evidence carefully helps restore perspective.
Sports
Beyond the score: what makes a useful match analysis
The result tells you who won. A good analysis explains how the contest unfolded and which conclusions the evidence supports.
Entertainment
Review, interview or news report? Know what you are reading
Culture coverage can inform, interpret and entertain. Its format tells you what kind of claim the writer is making.
Environment
Weather and climate: two timescales, one clearer conversation
Understanding the timescale helps you read both a daily forecast and a story about long-term environmental change.
Education
What school and university rankings can—and cannot—tell you
A ranking is a measurement system, not a complete portrait of an institution or a student’s experience.